“The main thing that I learned about conspiracy theory, is that conspiracy theorists believe in a conspiracy because that is more comforting. The truth of the world is that it is actually chaotic. The truth is that it is not The Iluminati, or The Jewish Banking Conspiracy, or the Gray Alien Theory.
The truth is far more frightening - Nobody is in control.
The world is rudderless.”
# Permanent link to The main thing I learned about conspiracy theory…
COVID: Myths and Misinformation 1
I previously made the point that social media platforms can provide an invaluable means of spreading useful public health information about the coronavirus crisis. Unfortunately, the pandemic has also generated a variety of bizarre beliefs, and these have spread throughout the World, largely through social media. Social media services have also allowed individuals to denigrate effective measures, such as social distancing, and to promote totally ineffective coronavirus “cures”.
Insomnia in the Time of COVID
I used to be a great sleeper. As a child, I remember there once was a severe storm that caused a lot of structural damage, including blowing down several chimneys in Glasgow tenements. I slept right through it! None of the stresses and strains of my professional life ever led me to lose much sleep, although, to be fair, until I went part-time in my last 2 years of work, I think exhaustion was a great help in leading me to the Land of Nod!
COVID Bad Hair Days
Covert hairdressing in the Time of COVID One of the most irritating things about Coronavirus Lockdown is not being able to get a haircut. I have a strong family history of baldness, and as I have got older my hair has become pretty thin on top. However, the same can’t be said for the back…
Social Media: the Pros & the Cons
My Experience of Social Media I have been a fan of social media every since it came into existence. My first foray into the field was as a member of the photo sharing website Flickr. Flickr was launched in 2004 by Ludicorp, a Vancouver-based company founded by Stewart Butterfield and Caterina Fake. I joined Flickr…
“Capitalism will always be racist and sexist, because it has to mystify its core contradiction - the promise of prosperity vs the reality of widespread poverty - by denigrating the 'nature' of those it exploits: colonial subjects, women and the dispossessed."
# Permanent link to Capitalism will always be sexist and racist…
COVID: Know Thine Enemy——-A Multisystem Disease
Effects of the novel Coronavirus on multiple systems Based on the experience of SARS, COVID was expected by most people to be a respiratory illness. However, it quickly became apparent that, as well as spreading much more readily than the SARS virus, SARS-CoV-2 was producing a much more complicated illness that affected multiple bodily systems.…
COVID: Know Thine Enemy——-Common Features
Patient Categories: People who catch SARS-CoV-2 can be placed into four broad categories: (1) Sub-clinical cases, who are asymptomatic (2) Those with infection in the upper respiratory tract, who have mild fever and a cough, and possibly other milder symptoms like headache or conjunctivitis. (3) Those with more severe fever and cough, as well as…
COVID: Know Thine Enemy—-Molecular Considerations
My Childhood Obsessions: I’ve always been interested in understanding things at a molecular level. I was a nerdy sort of a kid. Even at primary school I was interested in biology and chemistry. Fortunately, all my friends were pretty nerdy too, although I think I was the only one that had a hand-drawn “poster” of…
COVID: Know Thine Enemy—Preamble
Albert Einstein, surely one of the most remarkable humans who ever existed, said “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”. While I would hardly compare my intellect to Einstein’s, I too have always been curious, and keen to learn new things. Retirement has given me the opportunity to do a lot more…
